Ex parte Ah Men, 77 Cal. 198

Ex parte Ah Men

77 Cal. 198 | Cal. | 1888

Paterson, J.

Petitioner claims that he should be discharged from custody, for the following reasons: 1. Because the affidavit on which the warrant was issued was insufficient to give the court jurisdiction to order the arrest of petitioner; 2. Because the petitioner was arrested under a general warrant of arrest in Nevada County by the deputy sheriff of Yuba County; 3. Because he was arrested in the night-time, and without an in*200dorsement on the warrant of arrest to authorize the arrest at that time; 4. Because the warrant of arrest did not show upon its face facts authorizing the arrest; and 5. Because the petitioner is not named in the warrant of arrest, the only name used in the warrant being a fictitious name, and there being no other designation or description of the person to be arrested.

1. The affidavit on which the warrant of arrest was issued alleges in substance that since the service on the defendants of the injunction which had been issued on the sixteenth day of January, and served on defendants on the thirtieth day of the same month, said defendants, John Doe and others, have been working and operating the mine described in the complaint by the hydraulic process, in willful and gross disobedience of the orders and processes of the court. It describes particularly the manner in which the mine had been operated, and alleges that large quantities of material had been deposited into Deer Creek, tributary to the Yuba River, in violation of the writ of injunction. These allegations, we think, were sufficient. Section 1211 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that “when the contempt is not committed in the immediate view and presence of the court or judge at chambers, an affidavit shall be presented to the court or judge of the facts constituting the contempt, or a statement of the facts by the referees, arbitrators, or other judicial officer.” In this state, although contempt of court is a specific criminal offense, and a judgment of conviction thereof the same as a judgment in a criminal case (Ex parte Hollis, 59 Cal. 408), the practice has always been to prosecute a matter of contempt in the cause or proceeding out of which it arose, and not as a separate proceeding, with a title of its own. It is, therefore, unnecessary in the affidavit to set forth the pendency of the cause or proceeding, or the provisions of the order which has been violated. The court takes judicial notice of those matters, and it ip *201quite clear, we think, that “the facts constituting the contempt,” or the facts stated by the referee, within the meaning of section 1211, supra, are sufficiently stated if the acts done in violation of the order or writ are set forth. The most that can be said against the affidavit is, that it is inartificially drawn.

In determining on habeas corpus whether the court had jurisdiction, we must distinguish between a complaint or affidavit which charges no offense at all, and one which, though inartificially drawn, intimates the existence of the facts necessary to constitute the offense, and indicates a purpose to declare thereon. (Ex parte Kearny, 55 Cal. 228.)

2. It would be sufficient to say, in answer to the other grounds assigned as reasons for the discharge of the petitioner, that if the facts are as represented, and could be considered here, they show irregularity in the obtaining of jurisdiction, but do not show such a want of jurisdiction as would authorize his discharge on habeas corpus. The petitioner was actually taken before the court below and given an opportunity to defend himself against the charge made in the affidavit. We have already held that that affidavit was sufficient for the issuance of the warrant. The court had jurisdiction of the subject-matter, and however irregular the proceedings taken to obtain jurisdiction of the person, its judgment is final and conclusive. Section 1222 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that “the judgment and orders of the court or judge, made in cases of contempt, are final and conclusive.” The fact that the process has not been served by the proper person, or at the proper place or time, or that the warrant or order upon which a prisoner has been arrested is void, and the arrest unlawful, will not render the judgment void and subject to a collateral attack. (Ex parte McGill, 6 Tex. App. 498; Dorente v. Sullivan, 7 Cal. 279; Peck v. Strauss, 33 Cal. 685; Owens v. Gotzian, 4 Dill. 438; Ex parte Kellogg, 6 Vt. 511; *202Freeman on Judgments, see. 126.) After final judgment of conviction, the jurisdiction of the court cannot be questioned by an inquiry into the manner in which the accused was brought before it; and this is true, even though the prisoner has been kidnaped and forcibly brought before the court from a foreign jurisdiction. (People v. Rowe, 4 Park. Or. 253; United States v. Lawrence, 13 Blatchf. 306; Ex parte Scott, 4 Barn. & C. 446; State v. Smith, 1 Bail. 283; State v. Brewster, 7 Vt. 118; State v. Ross, 41 Iowa, 467.) In the last-named ease it was said: “The liability of the parties arresting them [the defendants] without legal warrant for false imprisonment or otherwise, and their violation of the penal statutes of Missouri, may be ever so clear, and yet the prisoners not be entitled to their discharge.” (See also Mahon v. Justice, 127 U. S. 700, where the cases bearing upon this question are thoroughly reviewed by Mr. Justice Field.)

Nearly all of the objections urged against the validity of the judgment, convicting petitioner of a contempt, are answered by the recitals in the judgment itself. If the record were silent as to the jurisdictional facts, jurisdiction would be presumed, but the judgment itself recites all of the facts necessary to the exercise of jurisdiction by the court. It appears upon the face of the judgment that the injunction was duly issued and served, and that the same has ever since remained in full force and effect; that after service upon the defendants the acts alleged in the affidavit were committed by the defendants in violation of the injunction and in contempt of the authority of the court. It recites that the petitioner was “duly and regularly brought into court, pursuant to said warrant of attachment”; that the person sued and served as James Doe in said action, and proceeded against by said name, answered that his true name was Ah Men. The matters thus adjudicated are conclusive, and no evidence dehors the record can be *203received to impeach them. (Freeman on Judgments, 619; Ex parte, Sternes, ante, p. 156.)

3. The fact that the true names of the defendants in the action were unknown was alleged in the complaint, followed by a prayer that when discovered the complaint might be amended by alleging their true names. The injunction seems to have followed the complaint, and was directed to the defendants under said fictitious names, but it was actually served upon the defendants. No answer was filed by them, nor did they make any appearance in the action. They continued, however, to do the things which they were by the writ of injunction enjoined and restrained from doing. In the affidavit for the warrant of attachment, the defendants were described as persons who had been served with the injunction theretofore issued. At the hearing the court found the true name of petitioner to be Ah Men, and it is so stated in the judgment. This is sufficient.

With the question of injustice or wrong that may have been done to this petitioner by the procedure against him, we have nothing to do. The only inquiry before us is, whether the court had jurisdiction of the person and of the subject-matter. We think that the petitioner should be remanded to the custody of the sheriff of Yuba County, and it is so ordered.

Sharpstein, J., McFarland, J., Searls, C. J., and Thornton, J., concurred.